Fire extinguisher



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Faiae m 9 @9246- FIRE EXTZNGUISHER Original Filed Aug. 8, 1919 Ii'fihi'fiiahz' WHITE EATTERSON, OF YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T FOAMI'JL' GSRPORATIGN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0}? 1013.115?! a 4 mm 1-; instinc FIRE EXTII'ZGUISEER.

application filed August 8, 1919, Serial No. 316,153. Renewed may To (@217 11-72 cm 2'15 may concern:

it known that I, DUNCAN \Vnrrn PAT- rrensozv, a citizen of the United States, residing at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York city, New York, U. S. A., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the foilowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it "Lains to make and use the same.

ihis invention relates to portable fire extinguishers of the type operated by inversion and more particularly foam fire extinguishers. In such extinguishers a basic soiution having a foaming agent mixed therewith is c lned in the main or outer container. and an acid solution is placed in an. inner container which is held in position so that on inversion the contents of the two containers mix together resulting in the disrh of a foam stream from the outlet. Convenience and cost of manufacture require that the neck opening at the top of the 5 outer container be as sinall as possible, and

conditions of maintenance and use require at the inner container shall be removable so-called soda and acid extinguishers,

which makes it desirable that the inner container shall be as large as possible, within'the iiinits of size imposed by the neck opening and by the length of the outer container. This invention relates to such removable inner container, the object being to simplify the design and construction thereof so that it can be made ofappropriately large capacity, of light weight, less cost and with the least labor, and also to improve the man'- ncr of cooperation therewith of thegravity stopple which may be used to cover the inner container, so that such stopple will open promptly and fully without sticking by cramping when the extinguisher is tipped for operation.

in the drawing Fig. l, is a vertical central section of a tire extinguisher and inner container according to this invention and- Fig. 2, is a top plan of the stopple which may be used herewith.

The main or outer container 1 is formed in. the outer container through the neck as customary for invertible extinguishers. It is provided with a neck externally threaded to receive the removable closure cap 2, the. latter being adapted to be screwed onto the neck with a gasket interposed so as to make a pressure'tight closure. It is also provided with a foam outlet or discharge nozzle 4 secured thereto as usuai near its upper end. The removable interior tubular structure is marked 3 and is of a diameter just sufiicient to permit it to be passed into the neck opening and of a length about equal to the outer container, so that when inserted through the opening its bottom end is adjacent to and preferably rests on the bottom '3 of the outer container, its upper end being then loosely contained in and supported by the neck opening. The lower part of this inserted structure forms the receptacle for the acid solution and its upper part serves to support the receptacle part and hold it in position and also serves as a stopole chamber and a'solution outlet. Both iower and upper parts have the same external diameter, which is the maximum diameter that will pass through the neck opening and the receptacle thus has the maximum'capacity for-an inner solution container which can be removed from the container. of diameter at the upper and lower ends of the interior structure also provides an important economy of manufacture, because the structure so designed can be made of a single piece or length .of commercial, thin walled cylindrical tubing as herein illustrated, or of a single fiat sheet rolled up into tubular form, as will be understood. By providing the tubing with a bottom or end wall 11, secured thereto by a folded seam or otherwise, it is converted into a container, and an annular member 5, atfixed to the interior surface of the tube at a point near its upper end, forms the top of such container. This member projects inwardly and upwardly from its point of attachment to the tube structure and by its free upper edge forms a narrow, annular stopple-seat-sur'face on which the stopple is adapted to rest. The narrowness of the seat surface is important since it provides a minimum seat contact with the stopple, on which a possible deposit or crust might be produced from vaporization of solution thereon, which is apt to result in the sticking of the stopple, and its elevated situation at the top or highest The equality 2 i masses part of the annular member 5, on which it is carried or formed, provides for the prompt drainage away from the seat of any liquid that might splash upon it, thus further reducing the tendency of sticking of the stop-' from the tube wall besides being elevated and self-draining. The said member marks the junction between the receptacle part and the upper stopple chamber, which latter is formed by the vertical side or tube wall of the receptacle part extending unbroken above the junction to the top of the structure, where it is provided with a beaded top edge to reinforce the thin sheet material of which the tube is made. This reinforcement is preferably formed by rolling or folding the tube material outwardly. Below the reinforced top edge and preferably also below the level of the lower edge of the neck 10, the material of the tube wall is cut or punched out with a number of openings 8. These openings 8, serve two purposes; they afford a free and unrestricted outlet for the inner solution to flow into mixture with the outer solution, and they provide finger-holds available for grasping the inner structure to draw it out of the neck, that is to say, said openings are made wide enough to allow the fingers to be inserted in them, thus afiording a secure hold on the inner structure which is fairly heavy when it is filled. These out let and fingerhold openings extend downwardly below the level of the elevated stopple seat so that any liquid draining away from the latter may pass freely into the outer container.

The uncut portions of the structure, between the openings 8 serve as cage or guide bars for a gravity stopple 6', which is made of less diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular structure and is thus adapted to rest on the elevated stopple-seat-surface with its periphery separated from the tube or cage bar structure by a distance of separation sufiicient to avoid any possibility of sticking thereto as the result of possible crust formation and also to insure freedom of motion without binding. The bottom of the stopple is coned so as to be easily centered and held centered with respect to the mouth of the receptacle and the tube wall. In order that such a stopple may open freely and fully on inversion, it is made with suflicient vertical dimension to enable it to slide on the cage structure, parallel to itself, that is to say, without canting or cramping, and

,in the-present case this dimension is provided by four deep radial ribs 9 which also provide an appropriate handle by which the s pp m y b t m ed- The e ri s r of sufficient height to extend above the tops of the fin er hold and solution outlet openings, so that they cannot protrude into the latter and they are proportioned so that the said openings are unobstructed by the stopple when the latter has moved, by slidingto its fully open position adjacent the cap 2.

It will be apparent that by making the tubular inserted structure of substantially the same diameter above as below the level of the stopple, and of the same piece of sheet material the labor and expense of riveting or otherwise fastening individual cage arms or bars to the top of the inner container are avoided and the exterior surface of the structure is quite smooth and free from irregularities likely to catch in the neckduring insertion or removal. The tube slides easily into position in the outer container and withdraws with equal facility. By forming the solution outlet openings entirely below the neck 10, the upper part of the tubular structure is left suificiently rigid, especially when provided with a beaded or otherwise reinforced edge, to guard against all ordinary influences tending to distort the cage structure and interfere with the free movement of a gravity stopple, and this location of the outlet openings does not impair their function as finger holds.

what I claim and desire to secure by Letmounted on said walls and located below said" ports, and a stopple resting upon. said seat and closing the lower portion of the inner container, the construction being such that the' sides of the container above said seat form guide means for directingfsaid stopple toward and from the seat when theapparatus is inverted.

2. A fire extinguishing apparatus including anoutereontainer, an inner container having vertical side walls, a stopple seat mounted on said walls, a stopple resting on said seat and closing the lower part of said inner container, spaced vertical portions of said walls extending above said stopple seat and adjacent to the sides of the stopple, the

construction being such that said vertical portions form guides for the stopple when the apparatus is inverted and the stopple falls away from its seat, the spaces between said portions serving as ports to perniit the contents of .the inner container to intermingle with the contents of the outer container.

3. A fire extinguishercomprising an outer container with a neck 0 ening provided with a removable closure an an interior tubular structure inserted through opening said seat with its periphery out of contactof the outer container, the upper end of said rescues supported at. its lower end on the bottom of the outer container, the upper end of said structure being loosely contained in and sup-' ported by the neck, said interior structure comprising a lower cylindrical part con-3th tuting a solution receptacle and an :tpper part having the same external diarmter said receptacle and provided with one or more solution outlet openings, an inwardly projecting annular member afiixed to the interior of said structure having a stopple-seat-, surface spaced inwardly from the wall of said structure and a stopple adapted to rest on said seat with its peri hery out of contact with the structure we 1.

4, A fire extinguisher having an outer container with a neck opening provided with a removable closure and an interior tubular structure having a smooth exterior surface for insertion through said opening, to be supported at its lower end on the bottom of the outer container, the upper end of said tubular structure being then contained in and supported by the neck, said structure comprising a lower cylindrical part constituting a solution receptacle and an upper part of substantially the same external diameter as said receptacle constituting a stopple cage, said cage having tinger-hold solution-outlets, an inwardly projecting annular member afiixed to the interior of said tubular structure and having an elevated stoppleseat-surface spaced inwardly fromthe tubular wall, and a gravity-seated stopple confined by said cage and adapted to rest on with thecage.

5. A fire extinguisher comprising an outer container with a neck opening provided with a removable closure and an interior tubular structure inserted through said openingand. supported at its lower end by the bottom part tubular structure being loosely contained in and supported by the neck, said interior tubular structure comprising a lower'cylindrical part constituting a solution receptacle and an upper one-piece cylindrical part having substantially the same diameter as the adjacent portion of said receptacle, and perforated with one or more finger-hold and solution outlets, an inwardly projecting annular member afiixed to the interior of said structure below said perforated upper part and having a self-draining stopple-seat-sur face spaced inwardly fromthe tubular wall, and a stopple adapted to engage said mat with its periphery out of contact with the part of the structure adjacent said part.

t 6. A fire extinguisher having an outer container with a neck opening provided with a removable closure and an interior tubular structure inserted through said opening and supported at its lower end by the bottom part of the outer container, the upper and of said tubular structure being contained in and. supported by the neck, said structure comprising a lower cylindrical part forming a solution receptacle and an upper part formed of the same external diameter as, and in one piece with, the lower part and perforated to provide one or more solution outlets, an inwardly projecting annular member affixed to the interior of said structure below said outlet and having a 'stopple-seat-surface elevated above thelevel of the bottoms of said outlets, and a stopple adapted to rest on said seat with its periphery separated from said structure.

7. A fire extinguisher having an outer container with .a neclt opening provided with a removable closure and an interior structure inserted through said opening andconsisting of a one-piece cylindrical tube provided with a bottom closure at its lower end and supported at that end on the bottom of said outer container, the upper end of said tube being loosely contained in and supported by the neck and provided with one or more'port openings formed therein below the neck, an annular member affixed to the interior of the tube below said port openings and having a stopple-seat-snrface spaced inwardly from the wall or said tube and a stopple adapted to be supported on said seat with its periphery normally separated from the wall of said tube.

8. A fire extinguisher having an outer container with a neck opening provided with a removable closure and an interior tubular structure inserted through said opening and and a stopple adapted to engage said memher as a cover for said receptacle with its periphery separated from the wall of said structure.

9. A fire extinguisher having an outer container with a. neck opening provided with a removable closure and an interior structure removable through said opening and consisting of a onepiece cylindrical tube provided with a bottom wall at its lower end and supportnd at that end on the bottom of said outer container, the upper end of said tube being supported by the neck and formed with one or more finger-hold and solution outlet openings, an annular mean her eihned to the interior if the tube below ice . incense said openings and extending upwardly above the bottom of said openings and forming an elevated stopple-seat spaced inwardly from the wall of said tube, and a stopple adapted to rest on said seat with its periphery separated from the wall of said tube.

10. A two solution foam-making fire-extinguisher havin an outer solution container with a nec opening provided with a removable closure and an interior structure inserted through said opening and oi.sub-- I supported on said seat with its periphery I separated from the wall of said tube.

11. A two solution foam-making fire extinguisher having an outer solution container with a neck opening provided with a reso movable closure and an interior structure insertedthrough said opening and of substantially the same length as said outer con- 'tainer, and consisting of a one-piece thinwalled cylindrical tube provided with an atas tached bottom wall adapting it to contain l the acid solution of the foam-making chemicals, the upper end of said tube being contained inland supported by the neck openingand provided with one or more solution- 40 outlet -openings formed in said tube below the top edge thereof said top edge being reinforced against deformation, an annular member aiiixed to the interior of the tube below said openings and forming an elevated 5 stopple-seat' spaced inwardly from the wall T of said tube and a self-centering stopple supported on said seat with its periphery normally ,out of contact, with and spaced from the wall of said tube.

12. A two solution fire extinguisher having an outer container with a neck opening rovided with a removable closure and an interior tubular structure of substantially the same length as said outer container, inserted through said neck and comprising an 5 upper cage part and a lower receptacle part, both formed in one piece and of equal diameter, a stopple seat of less diameter than the receptacle part, and a gravity stopple for said seat having a considerable vertical dimension and being thereby adapted to slide. without cramping in said cage part when the extinguisher is inverted.

13. A two solution foam-making fire extinguisher having an outer container pro- 66 vided with a neck' opening with a closure therefor and an interior tubular structure oi the same length as the outer container inserted through the neck opening thereof, and comprising alower receptacle part and 70 upper cage part-of no greater diameter than the receptacle part, an inwardly spaced stopple seat secured to the top of said receptacle and a stopple for said seat having a conical bottom and retained by said bottom in a position wherein its periphery is spaced from the adjacent wall of the cage structure.

14. In a two solution foam-making fire extinguisher, an outer container provided with a neck opening and closure, and an interior 8 removable container structure adapted to be inserted through the neck opening and rest' on the bottom of the outer container, said struct ure including a stopple' cage formed of a cylindrical tube ,of sheet material with finger-hold and solution-outlet openings cut therein below the top edge of said cage, a stopple seat secured to the interior of said structure below said openings, and a stopple resting by gravity on the seat and confined by the eage structure.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

DUNCAN wnrrn PATTERSON. 

